Masonry block mortar strip gauging device



June 19, 1956 H, PEPER MASONRY BLOCK MORTAR STRIP GAUGING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 16, 1953 f V we W "J a 9 X K. z w

5; BY M ATTORNEYS June 19, 1956 M. PEPER MASONRY BLOCK MORTAR STRIP GAUGING DEVICE 3 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1953 INVENTOR 12 127' 3 Map a 7" ATTORNEYS June 19, 1956 H. M. PEPER 2,750,790

MASONRY BLOCK MORTAR STRIP GAUGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 16, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 67 Q 66 6'6 I 64 INVENTOR 70 70 HnryMPe ver BY L M ATTORNEYS United States Patent MASONRY BLOCK MORTAR STRIP GAUGING DEVICE Henry M. Peper, Baltimore, Md.

Application January 16, 1953, Serial No. 331,692

3 Claims. (Cl. 72-130) The present invention relates to masonry implements and more particularly to a device for gauging and precisely locating mortar applied to the vertical end of a masonry block prior to its being laid.

With the present day advent of closely fitted building materials, and especially in constructions where glass blocks are used, the placing and gauging of the mortar used has become an exacting procedure, not only from the strength and seal requirements to be met, but also as to the appearance standards established for such constructions. The appearance is judged from the uniformity of the courses and the minimum showing of mortar. Glass masonry blocks have their edges extended from the plane of a grooved mid-section arranged as a channel that forms a key-lock mortar joint as a full bed of mortar proportioned to provide the proper strength, yet requiring only a small portion of the mortar to show as a relatively thin line of only about inch in width, resulting in a trim panel that is pleasing to the eye.

Such exacting placement of the mortar can be attained on the top edges of laid blocks by the use of the mortar strip positioning frame as devised by Karl H. Tengstedt and applicant, and set forth in Patent No. 2,642,736, however, the exact positioning of mortar on the vertical ends of such blocks has presented a serious problem which was partially solved by the same Karl H. Tengstedt and myself in the gauging device of our Patent No. 2,551,911, dated May 8, 1951, and entitled Masonry Mortar Gauging Machine. The machine of the present invention provides for considerable simplification in construction which results in lower costs of manufacture and improved operation.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved device for gauging and positioning a strip of mortar applied vertically to a glass masonry block.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mortar gauging machine which permits the operator to gauge the mortar applied vertically to masonry blocks of different sizes and shapes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mortar gauging machine having rockable gauging members movable upwardly and outwardly from the mortar receiving area of a masonry block.

A still further object is to provide a mortar gauging machine having mortar positioning members operative in response to -a foot-actuated mechanism of simple and rugged construction that permits the operator to effect a rapid, efi'icient, and accurate mortaring operation so as to effect a greatly lowered block-in-place cost.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent upon the reading of the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, and as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the present invention with its mortar drop shield in place,

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1,

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Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevational view showing details of construction with the mortar drop shield removed,

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial section taken on line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 6--6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 77 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the top; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in Figure 1 is shown an elevational view of the device or machine of this invention designated generally by the numeral 10. The device 10 is formed as a leg supported stand or table, preferably constructed of metal and suitably arranged to receive a masonry block 11 positioned on the top 12 thereof for application of mortar to the vertical sides of said block. The top 12 (Fig. 8) is preferably formed as one piece and is provided with suitably spaced dependent lugs 13 (Fig. 1) adapted to receive the upper ends of leg members 14 secured thereto by means of rivets or bolts 15. Three such legs 14 are shown to form a tripod type of support means, however, four legs could be used satisfactorily if desired. Disposed on the top 12 is an adjustable abutment or stop member 16 formed as an angle member and secured thereto by bolts 68 passed through suitable pairs of arcuate slots 70 formed in top 12 that serve as a means for adjustably positioning a masonry block 11 for alignment with the gauging members to be described hereinafter.

The top 12 is formed with a pair of spaced dependent sockets 17 and 18 disposed equi-distant inwardly of the front edge 19 of said top, as is best shown in Fig. 2 and 3. Disposed forwardly of and secured to the front edge 19 as by bolts 20 is a mortar drop shield 21 that functions to catch and direct excess or splattered mortar away from the under area of the machine top 12.

Dependently secured in sockets 17 and 18 are a pair of support rods 22 and 23. Rods 22 and 23 are mounted in parallel relationship and with their upper ends fixed in place as by suitable screws 24 with their lower ends extended downwardly from the underside 23 of the table 12 a substantial distance as shown.

Carried horizontally below the table 12 by rods 22 and 23 is a cross-support or yoke 26 (Fig. 4). Yoke 26 is formed with a horizontal crossbar 27 having a pair of spaced sleeves 28 bored for a slidable fit on rods 22 and 23 and are held in any desired adjusted vertical position by set screws 29 extending horizontally through each of the sleeves 28 to engage each respective rod extending therethrough.

Disposed transversely of crossbar 27 are a pair of spaced horizontal pillow blocks or bearings 30 and 31 bored to rotatably receive a pair of crankshafts 32 and 33 disposed therein. Lubrication to the crankshafts is applied by fittings 34 inserted in the bearings 30 and 31. Mounted on respective inner ends 35 and 36 of the crankshafts 32 and 33 and secured thereto as with set screws 37, are two matched crank arms 38 and 39. The crank arms 38 and 39 are of sulficient length to extend their respective free ends 40 into adjacent spaced relationship when horizontally aligned with each other. Extending transversely of each of the arm ends 40 and carried thereby is an elongated cross pin or pair of oppositely extended lugs 41. Forming a movable connection with the crank ends 40 by slidably engaging said pairs of lugs 41' is a connector link 42 formed as a pair of spaced plate members disposed at opposite sides of the crank arms 38 and 39 with each of said plates being provided with pairs of aligned slotted apertures 43 of limited extent and spaced in aligned relationship outwardly from the centers of said plates to receive the lugs 41, as best shown in Fig. 4. The slots 43 are dimensioned and positioned to rock crank arms 38 and 39 upon up and down movement of said link 42 whereby limited rotational movement is imparted to the crankshafts 32 and 33. The plate members of link 42 are held in spaced relationship by a suitable spacer 44 at the top and another 45 at the bottom of link 42 suitably secured by bolts 46 extending therethrough (Fig. 2). Link 42 is normally held at its elevated position under the urge of a spring 47 hooked around spacer 44 at one end with the opposite end hooked to a dependent ear 48 extending downwardly from the underside 25 of table 12. Looped over the bottom spacer 45 of link 42 as with an eye 49 formed in one end is an operating rod that extends to a suitable distance above the ground level and terminates in a suitable stirrup 51 for foot manipulation by the operator.

Mounted on the forwardly extended ends 52 and 53 (Fig. 4) respectively of crankshafts 32 and 33, are a pair of vertically extending substantially L-shaped arms 54 and 55 that carry the mortar gauging strips 56 and 57 (Fig. 3) for engagement with a masonry block 11 positioned on the table 12. Members 54 and 55 are removably secured to the crankshafts 32 and 33 by set screws as at 58 for rotattional movement therewith upon rotation of said crankshafts by the cranks 38 and 39.

Both of the arms 54 and 55 are preferably grooved as at 59 (Fig. 5) to receive one side 60 of the gauging strip carried thereby. Each of the strips 56 and 57 are formed as right angle members with the side opposite 61 from side 60 being proportioned as at 62 to provide the desired thickness of mortar to be placed vertically of the mortar area 63 of block 11. The gauging strips 56 and 57 are held in place by suitable screws or bolts as at 64. In the laying of an ordinary straight run of blocks, strips having opposite sides 61 of equal extent are used so as to effect a mortar strip of uniform thickness. However, when a radiused run is to be laid one of the strips is replaced with one having an opposite side 61 of greater extent to effect a wedge-shaped mortar strip, as desired. The length of each of the strips 56 and 57, as well as their carrying arms 54 and 55, is sufficient to gauge the various sizes of standard masonry blocks 11 worked, and the only change necessary to accommodate blocks of the different standard heights is to move yoke 26 up or down on its support rods 22 and 23 to secure the desired gauging strip height. This can readily be done with the unscrewing of set screws 29 to released positions.

The free ends of the arms 54 and 55 which are formed as channels at 65 are formed as the bottom portions of inverted abutting Us by a pair of horizontal extensions 66 attached thereto by screws 67, welding, or other suitable means.

The operation of device is very simple and it provides a quick, accurate means for precise gauging the application of mortar to various shaped mortar blocks of different heights. A masonry block 11 to be vertically mortared is positioned on the table 12 in side engagement with stop member 16 and its vertical mortar edge disposed against the gauging strips 56 and 57 with the arms 54 and 55 held in closed position by application of foot pressure to the operating rod 50. Mortar of sufiicient quantity to fill the space between the gauging strips 56 and 57 is then applied by the operator as with a suitable trowel and smoothed into place. Foot pressure is then released allowing connector 42 to move upward under urge of spring 47 forcing lugs 41 in slots 43 upward to rock cranks 38 and 39 in opposite directions, which motion in turn is conveyed to arms 54 and 55 through shafts 32 and 33 respectively, to rock the arms to a spread position freeing the gauging strips 56 and 57 from the freshly positioned mortar.

In the case radial blocks are being mortared, whereby a wedge-shaped strip of mortar is being applied, with one of the gauging strips 56 or 57 having been changed to a different sized one having an extended opposite side 6'1 to provide the wedge-shaped mortar space desired, the block 11 is turned over as its ends are reversed so that the wider sides of applied mortar match. When mortaring radial blocks the angle member 12 is adjusted by slipping bolts 68 in the arcuate slots 70 to the extent found necessary. The arrangement of opposed pairs of slots 79 also allows for adaptation of the device 10 for use from either side as desired. For either right or left hand operation all that is required is for the operator to work from the side most suitable to him.

In operation of the stirrup 51 it has been found to add much to the ease of operation if a suitable length '73 of a 2 x4 is stuck through the stirrup to serve as a treadle extending inwardly from either side as desired.

It should be noted that the extent of the spread apart position of the arms 54 and 55 is limited by suitable stop means provided by a pair of opposed shoulders 69 formed at the front edge of table 12 which help to provide for a quick semi-automatic positioning operation.

Figure 9 shows a modified form wherein the gauging strip carrying arms 154 and 155 are formed with offset mounting ends 171 and 172 for connection to drive shaft ends 52 and 53, respectively. This eccentric type of mounting for the carrying arms provides an upward movement of the gauging strips 56 and 57, as well as the top extensions 66, combined with their outward movement away from the freshly applied mortar. This combined movement has added greatly to the speed of operation and allows for a wider range of mortar mixes as there is less likelihood of the mortar adhering to the mortar strips and being withdrawn from the mortar receiving area as the gauging strips are moved out of engagement with the mortar and block.

Having described and illustrated the preferred form of my invention, including a modification thereof, I wish it to be understood that said invention is not -to be limited to such specific form, or arrangement of parts as herein described and shown, but only as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A mortar gauging machine comprising a block support table, depending supporting legs secured to said table, guide means secured to and extending downwardly from said table, a cross bar, a pair of spaced apart tubular sleeves integrally formed on said cross bar with their axes perpendicular to said cross bar, said sleeves being slidable on and adjustably secured to said guide means, a bearing block integrally secured to each end of said cross bar with the axes of said blocks parallel and ar ranged perpendicularly to the axes of said sleeves, said bearing blocks each having an axial bore extending therethrough, a shaft journalled in each of said bearing blocks, a pair of oppositely disposed spreadable gauging members, means securing the lower end of each of said gauging members to one end of said shafts, and means for rotating said shafts to actuate said gauging members.

2. A device is claimed in claim 1, wherein said gauging members are each provided with an offset mounting end with the outer end of the offset portion secured to said shaft whereby said gauging members move upwardly and outwardly in moving from their closed position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a pair of cylindrical shafts, and means are provided on the underside of said table for detachably securing said shafts thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,911 Tengstedt et a1. May 8, 1951 

